By Anna Italia

Inter beat Fiorentina with 51% ball possession compared to 49% from Fiorentina.

The score would have been bigger had not been by the superb performance from Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey who made many saves
                  FC INTER  2  -  0 FIORENTINA    
                          55' Esteban Cambiasso 
                          62' M. Balotelli
       

                       

What a match!  Seeing the Super goalkeeper from Fiorentina Sebastien Frey in pain but making great saves.

                       

I was just glued to the TV watching every move and admiring the well job done by Frey.  Despite being injured since the 28th minute, he put a brave face "stringe denti" and remained in the match for the entire 90 minutes.
Maybe, Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli should have substituted him for goalkeeper Avramov who started to warm up.

Goalkeeper Frey denied Cruz two clear chances to score. In the 33rd minute, Inter gets a corner kick conceded by Goalkeeper Frey when Javier Zanetti shooted to the bottom corner.   Mario balotelli  sends an assist to forward Julio Cruz who heads from the center of the nox to the bottom right corner only to be saved by Frey!  Such was Frey's effort to protect the net that he injured again.... Hey, I still wonder why Prandelli let him the entire match!  Maybe Avramov would have avoided the two goals?



Inter's first goal came in the 55th minute with an assist by Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira to midfielder Esteban Cambiasso who shoots from the center of the box blasting Fiorentina goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.  Hey, I celebrated this goal with a big JUMP FROM MY SEAT!!!!!  I am not an inter fan, but as a Milan fan, I was cheering for Inter to shorten the distance for the 4th position against Fiorentina. 

Just look at the expression of all players in this photo.  Esteban Cambiasso and Cruz looking if the ball was going to blast goalkeeper Frey..... and YES, IT DID!  After all, I don't blame them for hesitating because up to that moment, Frey denied Inter many goals with his great saves, especially denying Cruz the chance to score in the first half.



So, time to RUN AND CELEBRATE!!!!! Finally Inter beat Goalkeeper Frey!!!!!!!   Cambiasso is all joy and Inter fans at the Giuseppe Meazza exploded in joy and acclaimed Cambiasso for this goal that could mean "winning the scudetto."

                         
                           Look at Fiorentina players just dismayed with Esteban Cambiasso's goal!  

You bet Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and all Milan players were following the results closely too.  Hello, after Juventus beat Milan,  Sampdoria and Udinese losing their matches, the worst thing that could have happened was that Fiorentina beat Inter.  So, you my point now? 


Now, my friends, the second goal came in the 62nd minute with an assist by the one and only forward Julio Cruz to the 17 year old forward Mario Balotelli.  Balotelli had his shining moment and he did not waste it!   Balotelli shoots from the center of the box to the center of the goal where Fiorentina goalkeeper Frey could not save but just observed the ball inside the net. 

Fiorentina needed to beat Inter to secure the 4th position. Now, the battle for the 4th position is still open with Fiorentina, Milan, Udinese, and Sampdoria.

  This time Prandelli's "LUCKY PURPLE JACKET" did not work.


  

Italian Serie A Week 33  - Italian Serie A Tim 2007 - 2008  Thirty Third Round Matchday 33 FC Inter 2  - 0 Fiorentina Sunday, April 13,  2008 Giuseppe Meazza Stadium  11:30 a.m. USA Pacific time Referee: Massimiliano Saccani (Mantova) Assistants: Ayroldi and Maggiani Fourth Official: Romeo Italian Soccer Serie A Commentary by Anna Italia
FC INTER		FIORENTINA
19(10)	Shots (on Goal)		13(3)
2	Goals		0
15	Fouls		13
10	Corner Kicks		6
4	Offsides		2
51%	Ball Possession		49%
2	Yellow Cards		1
0	Red Cards		0
3	Saves		8

LINEUPS

Scorers: 55' Esteban Cambiasso (I), 62' Mario Balotelli (I)

FC INTER (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar;
Defenders:  Maicon, Nicolas Burdisso, Marco Materazzi (26 Chivu 72), Maxwell;
Midfielders: Javier Zanetti, Patrick Vieira, Esteban Cambiasso, Dejan Stankovic (Luis Figo 89);
Forwards: Mario Balotelli (Cesar 77), Julio Cruz.

Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 18 Crespo, 28 Maniche, 29 Suazo.

Coach: Roberto Mancini.

FIORENTINA (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Sebastien Frey;
Defenders: Jorgensen, Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Gobbi;

Midfielders: Santana, Kuzmanovic,  Liverani (Osvaldo 78),  Montolivo (Pasqual 71);

Forwards: Giampaolo Pazzini (Vieri 56), Adrian Mutu.

Subs not used: 25 Avramov, 3 Dainelli, 6 Potenza, 54 Da Costa.

Coach: Cesare Prandelli.

Booked: Gamberini 45 (F), Vieira 51 (I), Balotelli 66 (I).

DO YOU THINK INTER "already won the Scudetto" or there is still chance for ROMA or JUVENTUS to catch up? 
There are only 5 more matches....